1-Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking Tour from Kigali
1-Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking Tour from Kigali
This 1-day Uganda Gorilla Trekking Tour is specially designed for travelers with limited time who want to experience one of Africa’s most unforgettable wildlife encounters. It offers a chance to trek the endangered mountain gorillas in the ancient Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Despite being a short trip, this tour delivers a powerful and life-changing experience on the 1-Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking Tour from Kigali.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in southwestern Uganda, on the edge of the East African Rift Valley. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its rich biodiversity, dense rainforest, and stunning landscapes. The forest is believed to be over 25,000 years old. It is home to more than 324 species of trees, with 10 tree species found nowhere else but in Uganda. The park also shelters over 120 species of mammals, including elephants, forest antelopes, baboons, buffaloes, chimpanzees, and giant forest hogs.
For bird lovers:
the park offers over 350 bird species and around 200 butterfly species. But the highlight of Bwindi is undoubtedly the mountain gorillas. Nearly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorilla population lives here. The park has 36 gorilla families, of which 19 are habituated and open to visitors. This makes Bwindi the top destination for gorilla trekking in Africa, with more habituated families than Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park or Congo’s Virunga National Park.
This 1-day tour is best suites visitors who are already in Kigali, Kabale, or Kisoro If starting from Kigali, you will need to wake up very early—at around 3:30 a.m.—for the 3-hour journey to the park.
If you’re in Kisoro or Kabale, our guide from Safari Vacations and Travel Services will pick you up between 5:00 and 6:00 a.m. Please ask your hotel staff to wake you up on time and to pack a lunch or snack for you.
What to expect on a 1-day Uganda Gorilla Trekking Tour
Once you arrive at the park, you’ll receive a briefing at around 7:30 to 8:00 a.m. This session helps you understand the rules of gorilla trekking and how to behave in the presence of gorillas. Visitors are out into small groups of up to 8 people. Each group is assigned a different gorilla family based on fitness level and interest. The trek can last from 2 to 6 hours depending on the gorilla family’s location on that day.
Prepare for a challenging but rewarding hike. The forest terrain can be steep, muddy, and slippery—especially during the rainy season. Therefore, pack the right gear. Bring waterproof hiking boots, a raincoat, long trousers, stockings, a hat or cap, and rain-proof clothing. Park rangers will provide walking sticks and accompany you throughout the trek. Porters are available for hire at around $15 to carry heavy bags or assist you along the trail.
When you finally encounter the gorillas, you spend one hour with them. During this time, take as many photos and videos as you can. Watching these gentle giants up close is an experience that words cannot fully capture.
After your gorilla encounter, your guide will drive you back to your hotel in either Kigali, Kabale, or Kisoro. Though it is just one day, the memories created on this tour will last a lifetime. ending you 1-Day Uganda Gorilla Trekking Tour from Kigali safari.
Tour Includes:
Gorilla permit ($800)
Transport in a 4×4 safari vehicle
Packed lunch
Bottled drinking water
Experienced English-speaking driver/guide
Park entry fees
Park ranger and guiding services
Fuel
Tour Excludes:
- Visa entry of $50
- $15 for porters(optional)
Personal expenses such as beverages, cigars, souvenirs, tips, and crafts
Accommodation, before or after the trek, this can be available upon request
Safari Vacations and Travel Services is a Local tour operator based in Uganda with its head offices in Entebbe. Moreover, Safari Vacations and Travel Services is a business for a Ugandan native, we specialize in life-changing experiences and sustainable tours and holidays to all East African countries. We are members of the Association of Uganda Tour Operators and with registration from the Uganda Tourism Board. We have a good and long working relationship with Uganda Wildlife Authority making it easy to book your gorilla permits and gorilla trekking safari. Safari Vacations and Travel Services is also high in Trip Advisor reviews.
